Board Adopts Single Tax Rate, Votes to Bring Millstone Project Costs to Town Meeting
After attending the Fire Department’s 9/11 ceremony, the Select Board met and voted to open the Fall 2023 Special Town Meeting warrant. Town Manager Peter Lombardi explained that, although Brewster residents have expressed an interest in holding Town Meetings on Saturdays, it is not feasible for the upcoming Special Town Meeting. “Due to the days that Thanksgiving and Veterans Day fall on this year, we had to settle for holding Town Meeting on a weekday,” he added. The Select Board voted to set the meeting date for Monday November 13, 2023, at Stony Brook Elementary School. Mr. Lombardi summarized a list of the articles to be brought to Town Meeting. The priority deadline for warrant articles is September 29, 2023.
James Gallagher, Deputy Assessor, presented on the FY24 tax rate classification. Mr. Gallagher explained that the tax levy is increasing by around $4 Million, while residential values are also increasing by around 12%. Mr. Gallagher described the options available to allocate the tax levy within property classes, including a Residential Exemption and a Commercial Shift. Mr. Gallagher noted that “the Board of Assessors recommends adopting a Single Tax Rate amongst the property classes, and not to adopt any of the discounts or exemptions”. The Select Board determined, based on Town demographics, that the Commercial Shift and Residential Exemption options were not favorable at this point in time. The Select Board therefore voted to adopt an Estimated Single Tax Rate of $6.81 / $1,000.
Griffin Ryder, DPW Director, provided an update on the Millstone Road Improvement Project. Mr. Ryder explained that, following the Select Board’s vote in Spring 2022 to proceed with the Millstone Road Improvement Project, Town staff have been working to finalize the design. Mr. Lombardi added that the total project cost is currently estimated at $10.3M. The Town has $5.75M in available road bonds, a $2M balance in available Chapter 90 state aid for road construction and approximately $500,000 in prior capital articles that can be reappropriated through a Town Meeting vote. This would leave the Town with a projected shortfall of approximately $2M. The Select Board voted to bring an article to Town Meeting to approve $2M in Free Cash to cover the balance of the anticipated project costs. The Town has certified Free Cash at $5.1 million dollars. The Project team will be communicating updates with residents along Millstone Road in the next few weeks.
Mr. Lombardi reported on the Water Resource Task Force recommendation for watershed permits. Following up on the presentation to the Select Board on August 21st, the Town and the Task Force’s recommendation is to seek an exemption from Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for the watershed permits for Bass River and Swan Pond. “The Town can move forward with these applications as soon as the Select Board approves this course of action,” said Mr. Lombardi. “The Town has also drafted a Notice of Intent (NOI) to inform the DEP of its intent to seek a watershed permit for the Town’s portion of the Herring River,” he added. Mr. Lombardi explained that these actions will fulfill the Town’s obligations under the new Title V regulations. The Select Board voted to apply for exemptions for the Bass River and Swan Pond watershed permits, and to submit a Notice of Intent for the Herring River watershed.